GAZA CIVIL DEFENSE HELPS SCORES OF CITIZENS DURING HARSH WEATHER

Gaza, 21 Rabiul Awwal 1436/12 January 2015 (MINA) – The Palestinian civil defense service in the Gaza Strip said it had carried out 303 missions to help citizens and clear roads during the harsh weather conditions that hit the enclave in the last few days.

In a press release on Saturday, the interior ministry in Gaza demanded the unity government in Ramallah to shoulder their share of responsibilities in this regard and provide the operational expenses and salaries in order for the ministry and its service departments to continue doing their jobs to the fullest.

The ministry said the civil defense recently evacuated 152 families from flood-hit areas in Rafah, Khan Younis and Wadi Salaqa, and carried out 79 assignments to remove floodwaters, debris, trees, poles and signs from different places and roads, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The civil defense teams also carried out dozens of other assignments that involved securing homes in flood-prone areas, pulling stuck cars, extinguishing fires, rescuing citizens and providing them with first aid.

In a related context, the extreme weather conditions since last Tuesday in Gaza has claimed the lives of four Palestinians, three of them children, the Palestinian ministry of health stated in a press release on Saturday.

It said that the cold spell that hit the Palestinian territories caused the death of four Palestinians last Friday and Saturday.

All the victims were living in unsuitable homes that had been partially damaged during the last Israeli war on Gaza. (T/P011/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)